Carmen Álvarez Cuadrado
Pino Cannavò is an Italian man and father who fulfilled his dreamed of becoming a permanent deacon. The ordination took place in an unexpected setting: a hospital room in Catania, inside the intensive care unit.
His wife, María Rita, spoke with Rome Reports and recounted her husband's battle with illness. At this moment, Pino remains in the hospital.
Pino is still in the hospital, and, well... God willing, there's still a road ahead, although it could be challenging. But we don't put limits on divine providence.
It all began in June 2025, when he was diagnosed with a tumor that gradually worsened. A few months ago, he began chemotherapy, but the treatment was unsuccessful.
It hasn't had the expected result, so, we've tried other forms of care. My husband recently underwent surgery on July 31st . It's true that, well let's say, that it did remove part of the disease, or perhaps even all of it, at least what was visible. But his recovery has been very slow because the wound didn't heal properly from inside, and that's why we've reached this point, here in the hospital.
After a lifetime devoted to work, Pino enrolled in a theology programm. He was nearing the end of his studies and training for the diaconate when he became ill.
When it all happened in the intensive care unit, his reaction was one of pure happiness and tears from the very moment he saw the archbishop walk in and embrace him. Even before that, the archbishop had been willing to make this dream come true by ordaining him. So, clearly, when it finally happened, there were almost tears of relief as well, because his dream had come true.
Archbishop Renna of the Archdiocese of Catania, ordained Mr. Pino to the permanent diaconate. The ceremony took place amid wires and monitors, but he was surrounded by his wife and two children, both of whom are nurses at the hospital.
«It's not everyday that certain, shall we say, celebrations can take place in a setting like this. But as Monsignor Renna said, my husband's hospital bed became the altar, and therefore the entire intensive care unit was the cathedral at that moment. So, it was just a very beautiful comparison.
Despite the difficulties, Mr. Pino knew that even from his hospital bed, he would give his “Here I am,” just like any candidate for the diaconate, to serve God and the Church.
